Justice & Safety Alliance

04/29/2026

Tune into the Facebook Live press conference on April 30 at 11:00 am: https://tinyurl.com/WTI-Carruthers

More on Tony Carruthers' wrongful death row placement (his ex*****on date is currently set for May 21):

Mr. Carruthers was convicted and sentenced to death in Shelby County in 1996 with no physical evidence connecting him to the crime. His conviction was based on the testimony of informants, including one paid by the State who later recanted his statement. For decades, the State denied that this informant was paid and actively hid that information from the jury.

Mr. Carruthers was also forced to represent himself at his capital trial resulting in a trial so riddled with errors that his codefendant was granted a new trial.

There are several fingerprints and DNA evidence that don’t match Mr. Carruthers, but they were never compared to a suspect identified by his codefendant. Mr. Carruthers' legal team has requested testing from the courts.

🛑 The State of Tennessee should exhaust every available avenue to ensure that an innocent person isn’t executed.

⏱️Thursday, April 30, 11:00 AM CT

📍Facebook Live at https://tinyurl.com/WTI-Carruthers and 🔗 in bio!

Speakers include members of Witness to Innocence who live in Tennessee. is an organization created by and for death row exonerees, empowering them to tell their stories and work for change in the criminal legal system. TADP is grateful for their work!

09/29/2025

This Tuesday, Sept. 30: Join Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty for a panel with people whose lives were forever changed by the death penalty. Learn why they're fighting to end it and how you can take action: bit.ly/rhodesTADPevent

09/15/2025

We're standing together to make sure we're informed and ready to keep each other safe if and when the state allows the National Guard to be deployed to Memphis.

“I want residents to understand their rights, but also understand the authority that these soldiers are able to come into our space. It’s a show. It’s all about intimidation, and we cannot allow that to fragment us even further,” said Tikeila Rucker, political director of Memphis for All.

Community members are taking steps to learn their rights ahead of deployment.

09/09/2025

Join us this Saturday, Sept. 13, for a special session bringing crime survivors together to build a new vision of justice and safety for Memphis and Shelby County. Come out and help build a pathway to safety that prioritizes healing, accountability, and community strength.

RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/cssjtraining/event/784652/

08/04/2025

There's still time for Gov. Lee to intervene and stop the state from unconstitutionally executing Byron Black.

Ask Gov. Lee to grant clemency to Mr. Black today!

Send a letter: bit.ly/Clemency4Byron
Call the Governor: 615-741-2001

Read this important article from . (Link in bio!)

In a piece published today by , Segura digs deeper into Byron Black’s history of intellectual disability, how he fell through the cracks in the legal system, and the continued deterioration of his mental capacity and health.

She interviews Carolyn Weaver, a regular visitor for Gary Sutton on Tennessee’s death row, who has gotten to know Mr. Black over the years.

“Gary will tell you he’s like a kid,” Weaver said. “He doesn’t even understand how to put a sandwich together.” Interacting with Black, she learned what he meant. “I feel like when I do talk to him, I am talking to a child.”

There is still time for Governor Lee to intervene in order to ensure that Tennessee does not execute Mr. Black in violation of the U.S. Constitution and Tennessee law. No one argues that if Mr. Black was tried today, he would be ineligible for the death penalty.

Timing should not determine if this man lives or dies.

Take action at link in bio.

07/31/2025

Rockez McDaniel is the latest in a string of preventable jail deaths. He was detained on a misdemeanor charge, stuck with a bond he was unable to pay, and ended up dying from a vague "medical emergency" after his bond hearing was canceled multiple times.

"[Just City Executive Director Josh] Spickler said that while blame doesn’t rest solely with the sheriff’s office, it does share a large part of the responsibility for what’s happening inside 201 Poplar.

“(Sheriff Floyd Bonner) has a bigger budget than anyone else. Why can’t he assign one or two people to find who hasn’t been to court in a week? That would have saved Rockez McDaniel’s life,” he said."

A 33-year-old inmate died Monday at the Shelby County Jail, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. 

07/22/2025

With everything going on in the world, protecting our mental health is more important than ever. Join us this weekend for the Black Mental Wellness Festival for three days of healing, joy and connection: https://bmwf2025.eventbrite.com/

07/18/2025

Justice is always on the ballot, especially with the elections coming up in 2026! Join this conversation for some strategy, power, and inspiration as we gear up for next year.

Save your spot! bit.ly/BuildPower2026

07/17/2025

Join the Power Training and learn about policy development and analysis from these two insightful experts!

Sign up: bit.ly/MemPwrTraining2

07/16/2025

If you or someone you know has a juvenile record, you might be eligible for expungement! Use this guide to determine whether you're eligible, and learn the next steps to start the expungement process.

https://mlk50.com/2025/04/14/heres-how-to-get-your-juvenile-record-removed-in-shelby-county/

07/15/2025

What purpose does executing a man with an intellectual disability serve?
NONE. Absolutely none.

Add your voice to the calls for clemency for Byron Black: bit.ly/Clemency4Byron

07/14/2025

Learn more about how the federal cuts might affect you and your community. In short, the wealthiest Tennesseans will benefit from tax cuts almost immediately, while the rest of us - especially immigrants - feel the cuts to healthcare, SNAP benefits, and other supports over the next several years.

Editor’s note: This story was corrected on June 5 at 4 p.m to clarify a quote by Congressman Steve Cohen. When Shelby County Director for Health Services Dr. Michelle Taylor walks through Reg…